week2

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution during the debate over ratification.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, including rights such as freedom of speech and religion.

Checks and balances

An elaborate system of divided authority in the U.S. government to control power.

Constitution

The fundamental law that defines legitimate government operations.

Constitutional democratic republic

A government that ensures minority rights and rule by law while allowing majority influence through elections.

Direct democracy

A form of government where the people directly decide on governing issues.

Denials of power

Constitutional limits on governmental actions by listing prohibited powers.

Electoral College

The group of electors that cast the states’ electoral votes.

Electoral votes

Votes used to choose the U.S. president, based on Congress membership.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution during the debate over ratification.

Grants of power

Limitations on the U.S. government by confining its authority to powers granted in the Constitution.

Great Compromise

The agreement to create a two-chamber Congress based on population and equal state representation.

Inalienable (natural) rights

Rights that individuals possess naturally, such as life, liberty, and property.

Liberty

The principle that individuals should have freedom as long as they respect others' rights.

Limited government

A government subject to strict limits on its use of power.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal for Congress where each state has one vote regardless of size.

Primary election (direct primary)

An election for voters to choose a party's nominees for public office.

Representative government

A government in which people govern through elected representatives.

Republic

A government where representatives decide policy while protecting individual liberty.

Separated institutions sharing power

The principle that government powers should be divided among separate branches.

Separation of powers

The division of governmental powers among different institutions.

Social contract

An agreement by individuals to form a government within specified limits.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A compromise counting each slave as three-fifths of a person for taxation and representation.

Tyranny of the majority

The potential for the majority to misuse power at the expense of minority rights.

Unit rule

The practice where states award all electoral votes to the candidate winning the popular vote.

Virginia (large-state) Plan

A proposal for a strong Congress based on numerical representation favoring larger states.